Child benefit question

[camelscrossingthedesert]

Hi, my partner earns more than £50,000 a year which means we aren’t entitled to claim CB. However, I’ve read that I should put in a claim not to get money but just to keep my NI contributions up. Is this right, or does this only apply to people who have stopped work altogether for childcare reasons? (I am on maternity leave but only SMP.)

Thank you.

If you are employed then presumably your employer will still be paying NI contributions for you ?

There's no harm in applying anyway (but yes, ask not to receive the money). I think it covers you until the child's about 13 so if you leave work for any reason in the next decade or so you'll still be getting the NI credits. And the application's really simple.

If he earns over £50k but under £60k then you should claim it as only a proportion would be paid back. Once he reaches £60k it would all be paid back.

You can also choose to claim it and opt out of payment and that protects NI credits for lower earners/sahp. It also ensures your child's NI number is sent out automatically just before they turn 16.

Does her earn more than £60k?
I earn more than £50k and less than £60k and still claim but have to pay a proportion back in tax but it’s still worth claiming.

If you are returning to work you don’t need to claim for the NI but you can do.

If you are employed you will still be getting your NI paid. If you become sahm, yes, you should claim child benefit, which your DH will pay back via his tax return, to get your pension credits.

You don't need a full working life of contributions to get a full pension anyway. I think it's 23 years.

And everyone is eligible to claim child benefit. It is just that a higher earner in the household would be responsible for paying some or all of it back. (Or just opt out of payment if earnings are over £60k)

Agree. I used to work for CMS and we used to always tell people to apply even if you are over the threshold. It protects your NI contributions, and goes towards proof that you are the PWC. If anything happens years down the line with your partner and you split, you will be entitled to claim CHB and TC and if you go through CMS for a claim it makes the whole process much more simple. Plus it also protects your child, they will be in the system and sure to recieve theirNINO when they turn 16 with no complications.

NI will be covered until child turns 13, so useful for any future non working periods, even if you opt out of receiving payments.

We are in the same boat but go above the 60k threshold. It doesn’t seem to be worth claiming for no financial gain and the hassle of doing a self assessment tax return every year? I don’t see why the child’s national insurance number should be directly linked to their parent claiming either.

Claim and opt out of payment then and then no need for a tax return

@AllTheCakes

We are in the same boat but go above the 60k threshold. It doesn’t seem to be worth claiming for no financial gain and the hassle of doing a self assessment tax return every year? I don’t see why the child’s national insurance number should be directly linked to their parent claiming either.

It's not for no financial gain, it ensures you are entitled to a state pension in your own right.

@AllTheCakes

We are in the same boat but go above the 60k threshold. It doesn’t seem to be worth claiming for no financial gain and the hassle of doing a self assessment tax return every year? I don’t see why the child’s national insurance number should be directly linked to their parent claiming either.

I’m not sure, this was why I wanted to check! I do plan on returning to work when the baby is about 9 months.

And its the .gov website that states it helps them get their NI number automatically

@LIZS

NI will be covered until child turns 13, so useful for any future non working periods, even if you opt out of receiving payments.

Is it definitely 13? I thought it was 12 and was panicking that I need to find a way to pay NI as my youngest turns 12 next month!

Yep claim and opt out of the payments if you want a simple life

Think its until they turn 12

@frustrationcentral I think you only get the credits until your youngest turns 12. Sorry.

If your partner earns over 50k, what is the taxable pay? Once pension contributions and any childcare vouchers are taken off, you may well find taxable pay is under the threshold.

I thought as much, better get a wriggle on!

Everyone should claim and then opt out. Protect your own state pension

@BecomeStronger you need 35 years of NI payments to get your full pension.

@uggbooted

Everyone should claim and then opt out. Protect your own state pension

But isn’t my state pension protected when I am on maternity leave, even if I only get SMP?

[quote SciFiScream]@BecomeStronger you need 35 years of NI payments to get your full pension. [/quote]
You do! I remember checking when I had a brief period of SAHM and I only needed a couple more years but I've been working 38 years, how is that possible?

When you claim Child Benefit that's when your child is allocated their NI number and then they get informed of it as they approach the age of 16

If you're likely to get 35 years of NI credits due to working within your 45-50 years of working between 16 and pension age, you don't need CB for NI credits towards pension purposes - you can check where you are with this in your Government Gateway account.

The £50k income threshold is adjusted up and down by pension payments and benefits like a company car and you only lose CB complately when one parent earns more than £60k after pension payments, check this with the HMRC calculator, so it might be worth claiming anyway, but bear in mind your DH will have to pay back some with a tax return.

Tax returns are very easy, especially if it's just for repayment of CB - probably 10-20 mins work if that, not a hassle at all.